Pear Tree in Bloom

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge September 2018 Chained Together III (8) pear tree in bloom

This challenge was to write the hokku for a revised quote from Shiki

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

overgrown fields
covering the scars of the past
a meadowlark sings

pear tree in full bloom on a battlefield
collapsed house becomes beautiful again                © Shiki (re-worked by Chèvrefeuille)

The Temple Bell Stops

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge September 2018 Chained Together III (5) The Temple Bell Stops

autumn sunset
following evening vespers
I walk the gardens

The temple bell stops but I still hear
the sound coming out of the flowers       

© Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) (taken from “Narrow Road”)

 

I Am A Wanderer

Carpe Diem’s Renga With Basho #7 I’m a wanderer

the shallows –
a crane’s thighs splashed
in cool waves   

afternoon light dancing
through the shadows

the dragonfly
can’t quite land
on that blade of grass

wind teasing the air
leaves saunter about

by the old temple,
peach blossoms;
a man treading rice

sky echoes in waves of pink
night’s veil silently encroaches

all the day long-
yet not long enough for the skylark,
singing, singing

each cadence stirs the night air
giving life to the darkness

autumn moonlight–
a worm digs silently
into the chestnut

the ruffle of an owl’s wings
haunting cry of success

I’m a wanderer
so let that be my name –
the first winter rain

I draw my cloak around me
and move on, and move on

 

Haiku © Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Tan Renga with Jane

morning breeze
coming in the window
surf sounds                          © Jane Reinhold

dolphin’s noisy chatter
as a pod passes by               © Dolores

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

without lights
the brightness of a blue sky
full of stars                           © Jane Reinhold

becomes a wonder to behold
a playground of hopes and dreams    © Dolores

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

balanced at dawn
a full moon slides into the sea
without ripples     © Jane Reinhold

as the sun leaps from the depths
creating a pool of red                     © Dolores

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

stars bend down
into the wind of whitecaps
morning light                                  © Jane Reinhold

along the beach a ghost crab
scavenges for it’s breakfast             © Dolores

Dandelion, Dandelion

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge Month 2017 #12 dandelion, dandelion (Ogiwara Seisensui)

dandelion dandelion
on the sandy beach
spring opens its eyes

                    © Ogiwara Seisensui

winter’s last kiss
blown out to sea

                     ©Dolores

Taste of Nature

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge Month 2017 #11 taste of nature (Sara McNulty)

Credit: Haney Road

First Autumn

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge Month 2017 #6 first autumn morning (Murakami Kijo)

first autumn morning
the mirror I stare into
shows my father’s face                          © Murakami Kijo

lines of laughter etched deep
eyes imbued with suffering                   ©Dolores

Tan Renga Challenge

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge Month (Second Edition), May 2017 #1 on a gust of wind

on a gust of wind
the cherry blossoms dance through the streets
in praise of the Creator

© Chèvrefeuille

fiercely kitten pounces
torn pink petal lies still

108 -Tan Renga

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #109

 

before the spring equinox;
the cold will last
only a night or two more                       (Rotsu)

the light of the full moon shines
hope stirs in my frozen heart           (Dolores)